Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Hot Tips

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Advance your professional wildland firefighting skills.
Looking for new directions and innovative ways to get the job done?
Interested in a toolbox of hot tips that really work?
You're in the right spot.

View the latest in innovative tactics, technologies, tools and learning opportunities below:

Lessons from the Whitmire Research Burn (Posted 08/20/09)
Researchers evaluating the impacts of cool- and warm-season burning treatments on watersheds in the oak savannas of southwestern New Mexico joined firefighters from the Douglas Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest on the Whitmire research burn to gather the first post-burn data of the study. For scientific findings about the Cascabel Watersheds study see Dr. Gerald Gottfried's presentation, What we have Learned from the Cascabel Watersheds. Fire managers may also want to see the Escape Prescribed Fire Review for the Frye Mesa and Whitmire Rx Burns, completed by Coronado National Forest in 2008.

Narrated presentations titled MyFireCommunity.net Orientation will be available soon to help you learn how to use many of the updated site's new capabilities.

The Slaughter Draw Fire (7.3 MB) resulted in an engine burnover the investigation team determined could have been prevented. (This is a Flash Presentation and requires the Adobe Flash Player v7.0 or newer to run.) Investigation Team Report (1 MB PDF posted 091305)

Other recent additions we consider Hot Tips:

Panther Fire Investigation Report
(1MB pdf posted 3/17/2010)
"The Panther fire was located and identified on July 23, 2008. Initial attempts to contain this fire were made by a Type 4 incident command organization. Due to an increase in fire size and complexity, it transitioned to a Type 3 incident command organization within the next operational period. By the evening of July 25th, the Type 3 Incident Commander identified the need for additional oversight and recommended that the fire be elevated to a Type 2 incident command organization. This decision was again based on continued increase in complexity of the fire..."

Panther Fire Accident Timeline of Significant Events
(31KB pdf posted 3/17/2010)
This document contains a table of significant events from the Panther Fire Accident Investigation.

Leading Connection Development and Knowledge Flow
(60KB pdf posted 2/24/2010)
"Leading Connection Development and Knowledge Flow to Increase High Reliability Organizing Implementation Effectiveness" is a paper delivered at the 3rd International High Reliability Organizing Workshop in New Orleans, LA by David Christenson, Acting Center Manager of the U.S. Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center.

Hazmat Release and Exposure Incident CA- LPF
(221KB pdf posted 2/1/2010)
On January 18, 2010 five firefighters from the USDA Forest Service were transported to local emergency room for examination due to inhalation of an unknown hazardous material which caused some of them to react with hacking and coughing.

Lessons Learned - Icy Road vs. Forest Service Vehicle, Equals Rollover
(388KB pdf posted 1/20/2010)
"Forest Service Employee, working for the Supervisors Office, Lassen National Forest was involved in a single Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA). Vehicle was a full size Chevrolet 4X4 Truck. This accident occurred on January 14, 2010, at approximately 0930 hours. Employee was traveling Westbound on Highway 36 approximately twelve (12) miles west of Susanville California, in Lassen County."

CNF Vehicle Accident Lessons Learned December 9, 2009
(463KB pdf posted 1/6/2010)
"On December 9, 2009, three firefighters were involved in a motor vehicle accident on a 2 lane state highway known for dangerous curves. Below is a brief summary of the incident:..."

Accident Investigation Factual Report Loss of Fire Engine 3662 During High Water Crossing of Gila River
(818KB pdf posted 12/22/2009)
"On Sunday September 6, 2009, Engine 3662 (3662) a type 6 engine from the Colorado River District stationed in the Yuma Field Office was involved in an accident while attempting to cross a flooded portion of the Gila River North of Yuma. As a result a large portion of 3662 was submerged in four to five feet of water for approximately one hour. The accident was caused as 3662 attempted to make a high water crossing of a normally passable river ford. Heavy rains from the day before had left the river well above its normal levels and the engine was submerged in the Gila River to the bottom of the windshield. There were no injuries to the crew. Damage to the engine is still being ascertained."

Walking Safely on Ice Tip Sheet
(136KB pdf posted 12/22/2009)
Walking to and from parking lots or between buildings at work during the winter requires special attention to avoid slipping and falling. Slips and falls are some of the most frequent types of injuries that IWIF sees – especially during the winter months."

CNF Lesson Learned - Heat Related Injury November 16, 2009
(69KB pdf posted 12/14/2009)
"On November 16, 2009, a firefighter went down with a heat related injury and was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. The following timeline related to the incident was gathered from the injured firefighter..."

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) Frequently Asked Questions
( pdf posted 12/3/2009)
This document identifies and answers many questions about the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center.

Disclaimer: Information is provided with the intent to share knowledge to improve safety, performance, efficiency and organizational learning throughout the entire wildland fire community. However, no warranties or guarantees are implied because much of the data provided is beyond the control of the Center. No endorsement of any company or product is given or implied.